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But hinting he may consider a lengthy campaign before his promised referendum on EU membership, Mr Cameron said that the "longer term reaction" to the migration crisis could be to make sure that there was a relationship with Brussels that "works".

The Prime Minister was in Poland on the latest leg of his diplomatic offensive to win backing for the reform programme he hopes will allow him to recommend the UK remains within the 28-member bloc.

A major obstacle is his call for a ban on EU migrants claiming in-work benefits in Britain until they have been in the country for four years - which he hopes will deter citizens of other member states from coming to the UK.

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More than one million migrants have claimed asylum in the UK

But Mr Cameron said the wider migration crisis - triggered by people seeking to come to Europe - could harden British opinion against the EU.

He said: "I think with both the eurozone crisis and the migration crisis, the short term impact is for people to think, 'oh Christ, push Europe away from me, it's bringing me problems'."

Indicating he may consider delaying a referendum until nearer the end of 2017, Mr Cameron added: "I think the longer term reaction might actually be, well if they are going to have a single currency and they are on our doorstep and they are going to try and make it work, let's make sure our relationship with them works and then we have safeguards, not least for our vital financial services industry so that the system doesn't work against us."

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The Prime Minster said he is looking for a better way to work with the EU

The short term reaction can be get me out of here, the longer term reaction is we must find a better way of working with our partners because

David Cameron

The Prime Minister, who will continue discussions with his Polish counterpart Beata Szydlo today, added: "The short term reaction can be get me out of here, the longer term reaction is we must find a better way of working with our partners because we share the same challenges."

He has already been forced to concede there will be no agreement on his reform agenda at this month's summit of European leaders, with a showdown on his demands now likely in February.

In a further indication of the challenges he faces, Donald Tusk reportedly claimed that no other EU country fully backed his reforms.

The European Council president told a meeting of MEPs that there was "no consensus", adding: "In fact, 27 member states are very sceptical. Indeed, they are against."

Poland's former prime minister warned Mr Cameron he will "will not be satisfied 100%" with the outcome of negotiations.

After talks in Bucharest with Romanian president Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday, Mr Cameron stressed the importance of his measures aimed at curbing the number of EU citizens heading to the UK.

He said net migration to the UK was "not sustainable" and stressed EU members should be allowed to reform benefits rules to reduce incentives.

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Donald Tusk claimed 27 member states 'are very sceptical'

The Prime Minister acknowledged that "some areas are more difficult than others, particularly the reforms I have proposed on welfare".

Eastern European countries including Romania and Poland have been major sources of migrant workers coming to the UK, and their politicians are sensitive to any measures which could discriminate against their citizens.

But Mr Cameron insisted: "Net migration in the UK is running at well over 300,000 a year and that is not sustainable.

"So we do need to find ways to allow Member States to make changes to their social security systems that will help them to deal with this issue."

Migrant Crisis: Mass exodus from the migrant camp continues

Tue, October 25, 2016

Hundreds of migrants are continuing to arrive in Europe as they flee the scenes of chaos and brutality of the Islamic State in the Middle East.